- HOPA Ports and partners contribute $35,000 to RBG Summer Student Program supporting Hamilton Harbour
- Longstanding partnership advances conservation work, including habitat restoration and species protection
- Program provides hands-on experience for students while improving harbour health
- Partnership connects industry, environment and education on Canada’s busiest Great Lakes port
HAMILTON, ON – HOPA Ports (Hamilton-Oshawa Port Authority), alongside key port partners, is investing $35,000 in the Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) Summer Student Program, strengthening a decades-long collaboration that is helping advance environmental stewardship on Hamilton’s working waterfront.
Since the early 1990s, HOPA has contributed more than $100,000 to RBG initiatives. This year’s contribution, made in partnership with Parrish & Heimbecker, Logistec Stevedoring, Bunge, and Algoma Central Corporation, reflects a shared commitment to protecting and enhancing one of Canada’s most ecologically significant urban waterfronts.
As Canada’s busiest Great Lakes port, HOPA plays a central role in driving economic activity while operating with a clear focus on sustainability. Guided by its mandate as a responsible steward of port lands, HOPA works to ensure its operations, and those of its partners, support the long-term health of the harbour, its ecosystems, and the surrounding community.
Through its ongoing partnership with RBG, that commitment extends beyond operations and into direct environmental action.
The Summer Student Program provides post-secondary students with hands-on experience in environmental science, conservation, and public education. Students contribute directly to projects that improve the health of Hamilton harbour, including habitat restoration, and biodiversity protection. As a result, RBG serves as a living laboratory, where learning is paired with measurable impact on the natural environment.
“Our partnership with the RBG is rooted in a shared commitment to caring for the communities and natural environments that connect us,” said Kelly Noseworthy, Communications Advisor at HOPA Ports. “As responsible stewards of the land, air and water in the communities where we operate, we recognize the importance of investing in the next generation of environmental leaders. The addition of our port partners to this initiative reflects the collective commitment across the port community to environmental stewardship. Together, we’re creating meaningful opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience while helping protect and enhance Hamilton Harbour for future generations.”
“The support of HOPA Ports and its partners is essential to the continued success of our Summer Student Program,” said Nancy Rowland, CEO at RBG. “Together, we are empowering students to take part in meaningful, hands-on conservation work that directly benefits Hamilton Harbour. This partnership demonstrates how industry and environmental organizations can work together to protect biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and build a more sustainable future.”
Quotes:
Darryl Markle, VP Terminals & Global Execution, Parrish & Heimbecker, Limited
“Parrish & Heimbecker is proud to support this initiative alongside HOPA Ports. For nearly two decades at Pier 10, we’ve been part of Hamilton’s working waterfront. Supporting programs like this reflects our long-standing partnership with HOPA and our shared commitment to serving the Hamilton community.”
Gregg Ruhl, President & CEO, Algoma Central Corporation
“Algoma Central Corporation is proud to support this initiative as a shipowner that calls at the Port of Hamilton throughout the navigation season. Our vessels transport essential raw materials that support agriculture, construction, road safety, energy, and manufacturing. We are equally committed to operating responsibly and working with our partners to protect the shared waterways that are critical to our communities, economy, and future.”
Riana Kruger, Plant Manager, Hamilton, BUNGE
“Bunge is proud to be one of the longest-serving partners on Hamilton’s waterfront. Giving back locally is central to how we operate, and supporting this program aligns with our commitment to sustainability and responsible growth in the communities we serve. By investing in the next generation and supporting the health of Hamilton Harbour, we are helping contribute to a stronger, more vibrant community for years to come.”
Frank Montecalvo, VP of Operations, Logistec Stevedoring Inc.
“As the operator of the largest stevedoring facility at Piers 12 through 14, Logistec plays an important role in connecting marine trade to the community. Supporting RBG’s Summer Student Program reinforces the importance of maintaining a healthy, accessible waterfront that supports both industry and environmental stewardship, and we’re proud to contribute to this important initiative.”
The RBG Summer Student Program not only builds the next generation of environmental leaders but also plays an active role in improving the ecological health of Hamilton Harbour.
HOPA Ports’ continued investment reflects its broader commitment to sustainability, balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility and strong community partnerships. By working collaboratively with organizations like RBG and industry partners across the port, HOPA is helping ensure that Hamilton Harbour remains both productive and environmentally resilient for generations to come.
ABOUT HOPA PORTS
As an integrated port network, the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) offers port and marine assets in Hamilton, Oshawa, and Niagara to support Ontario industries and facilitate trade. By investing in high-quality infrastructure and prioritizing sustainability, HOPA helps build prosperous working waterfronts in Ontario communities. Overseeing more than 1,400 acres and more than 180 tenant companies, 40,000 Ontario jobs are connected to the cargo that passes through HOPA’s integrated ports.
ABOUT RBG
Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG) is Canada’s largest botanical garden, a National Historic Site, and a leading environmental charity dedicated to connecting people, plants and place. Spanning more than 2,700 acres across Hamilton and Burlington, RBG is one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. Through conservation, education and research, RBG works to protect vulnerable ecosystems, restore natural habitats, and inspire environmental stewardship in communities across the region.
For more information, please contact:
Kelly Noseworthy
Communications Advisor, HOPA Ports
[email protected]
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Video/Photo credit: HOPA Ports
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